Finally, you feel ready to take that big leap and purchase your Dream Home. You did a lot of legwork and inspected a lot of houses until you finally landed on that perfect house that you can see yourself decorating and calling it home.

There are many factors to consider when making such an important decision and the location of the property might just be in the top three.

Some people, especially the first-timers, give a lot of attention to the condition of the house and make a value estimation based on that, but what they forget to take into account is the location of the property.

The location of the property can affect the value tremendously. The look and condition of the house can always be changed, but the location would prove to be a solid long-term investment.

Following are some of the points to keep in mind when choosing the perfect location for your dream home:

1. Is the Neighbourhood Safe?

A safe neighbourhood should be your topmost priority when it comes to buying houses. Everything else might be compromisable, but the safety of your loved ones is not. When I was looking to buy a flat for myself in south Kolkata, I found gated apartments to be the safest. I noticed how calm the parents of the children playing in the parks were. It creates a tension free and relaxed atmosphere for both the children and their parents.

1. Are there Good Schools?

When it comes to education, parents want the best for their children. If there aren’t any good schools in your locality or if they are too far away from your future home, it can affect the quality of education substantially. Look for properties close to schools, because a long commute for your children would really drain their energy and they will be too exhausted to study or play when they reach home. Apart from being beneficial for children, having good connectivity to schools leads to increase in property value.

1. How far is your Workplace?

You might be one of the lucky few who bagged a job that you actually enjoy doing, but even that can become frustrating if travelling to your workplace becomes a tedious task. Whether you prefer a car, bike or public transport to get to work, do some research and make sure there is good connectivity to the property you’re looking to buy and that the commute isn’t too long.

1. What about Basic Necessities?

Water is a good example of a basic yet incredibly important necessity. While checking for flats for sale in Kolkata, I realised that the city was having a water crisis and many residential areas were suffering due to it. Adequate water supply, negligible power cuts, etc. can become the difference between a comfortable life and a hard life.

1. What about Entertainment?

Restaurants, movie theatres, shopping centres, etc. have become a part and parcel of our daily lives. More and more of these amenities pop up every day. Choosing a location where there are chances for such developmental projects increases your property value by a lot. Not to mentions, the closer the restaurants, the faster the delivery!

Final thoughts: At the end of the day, the key to successfully hunting down the house of your dreams is to have a clear idea of what is important to you. Many ongoing residential projects in Kolkata and other cities are becoming more conscious about providing homes that have a close proximity to such amenities for a comfortable life. When buying a home, always think like a future seller.